2 Samuel – Chapter 7

…And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 2 Samuel 7:11b – In this chapter King David had the wonderful intention to build a house, the temple, for the Lord. David was staying in a luxurious palace, but the ark of God was still in a tent like it had been for centuries. David felt shamed that he was living so well yet the ark of God was in a tent, so he set out to build a house for the Lord. What we see though in the chapter is the Lord stopped him. While it wasn’t wrong to want to do something like this for the Lord, it also wasn’t something the Lord told David to do. We see though this heart of David wasn’t condemned by the Lord, instead the Lord flipped the script on David. While David wanted to build a house for God, God said He’d instead build David a house. God would bless David’s kingdom and David’s line would be great. We see in scripture how God even promises that David would never cease to have a king on the throne for one day Jesus would take that seat. We learn a powerful lesson here, we can never out-give the Lord. David wanted to build God a house, God gave David a forever kingdom. We give God obedience, He gives storehouses of blessings. We give God ourselves, He gives us Himself. Do not be afraid to give the Lord what He is asking of you. The end result of obediently giving to the Lord will never be your lack, it will be your overflow of blessing. Praise the Lord we have a God that loves to flip the script on us and bless us beyond our wildest dreams. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac- Daily DEVO 3026

2 Samuel 7 Daily DEVO And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God… 2 Samuel 7:19a – Once again we see this short phrase being said of God. Last time God’s people were dying of thirst and being surrounded by enemies. This time it’s looking back at all the amazing things God did to take care of David up until now. While for David all that had happened would have been an impossible feat for him to achieve, David realizes that for God all this was just “a small thing” in God’s eyes. Meaning God is so powerful and wise that while it would have been impossible for David to do all this it was a simple thing for God. We must take hold of this and be reminded again by scripture that God is so much bigger than you and can do things we can’t. Finding a resolution to that problem, healing that torn relationship, bringing unity to a church family; all may seem impossible to us with our own resources. Yet God looks at it as something not only manageable but even easy in His eyes to handle. Let’s try to remember when the situations in life are impossible for us to handle our God has it all under control. Find peace in the fact that while our eyes can’t even see the ending to our struggle, it’s a small thing in God’s eyes. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 438

And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.” But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan…2 Samuel 7:3-4 – Just because a path appears right, that doesn’t automatically mean it’s the one God is calling you down. Here Nathan responded to David as a godly man, not as a prophet of God. It seems good and right from a humanly understanding to build a house for the ark, but that wasn’t God’s plan. This is why it’s so key we bring our plans before God first. For as Proverbs 14:12 states, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but it’s end is the way to death.” While building a house for the Lord sure didn’t appear to be a sinful action that would lead to death, it was a path God didn’t want David going down. Bring your plans always before God. The only things you can have confidence in moving forward with always are the things God has already stated plainly in His Word to do. Like if someone is in front of you and you’re debating, “Should I show them love?” Yes, always, you don’t have to question that path. Or if an opportunity to share the Gospel arises and you’re wondering should you take it…yes, always take it. If it’s something God has already spoken to you to do through His Word you can has confidence in that path, but if you don’t have that clarity bring it to Him. God very well might have vastly different plans than your own, even if your plans do seem good and are coming from a holy heart. It is better to be on the right path with a humble heart than the wrong path with holy intentions. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1866